Mr. Gregory Karasin, Russia’s deputy Foreign Secretary wants to
see broader Georgia –Russia relationships. He made the statement at
an international security forum jointly arranged by the Russian
foreign ministry and the Russian Parliament (Duma). The round table
participants from Germany, Canada, the USA, Turkey, Sweden, France,
some of the CIS states and Georgia represented by Mrs. Burjanadze,
leader of the Opposition United Democrats are discussing the global
security issues.

"We support broader bilateral relations. It’s very good that
Mrs. Burjanadze is here. I hope to meet and discuss things with
her,- Russia’s deputy Foreign Secretary Karasin told the Georgian
Maestro TV, adding that his broader agenda next round talks with
Georgia’s special envoy Mr. Zurab Abashidze was scheduled for 15
July.

-A manifestation for decriminalization of cannabis held in front
of the Government Chancellery on 2 June stirred a controversy among
the politicians and human rights groups. Many people think that
soft drugs shouldn’t be a criminal offence and call for amendments
to the Penal Code. What do you think?

-The protesters should have differentiated between drug dealing
and drug consumption. Semmingly, they were calling for
decriminalization but what they actually meant was marijuana
legalization. Moreover, the rally had nothing to do with
decriminalization or new regulations, for the protesters did not
even mention article 273 of the Georgian Penal Code envisaging
penalty for a repeated drug abuse within a calendar year. I should
say there were a number of suspicious people among the protesters,
including the so-called clubbers, who regularly take amphetamines
and meta-amphetamines and made no secret of their support to drug
abuse. Unfortunately, the Police kept a low profile and overlooked
the fact that the adults had brought children with them, which is a
criminal offence under article 187: "Engagement of Underage Persons
in Anti-social Activities.” In a state proper its an offence
subject to rather a severe punishment.

- I believe if a similar protest had been staged during the
Nationals’ rule, a number its participants would have ended up in
jail moreover that quite a few of them seemed to have been drugged.
Why didn’t the police act adequately?

-It was blatant incompetence and irresponsibility for what was
up was an anti-social activity involving minors masked as freedom
of expression.

-Do you think the rally had been targeted at instigating
violence, which would have been attached political
connotations?

One thing is clear: they broke the law and did all they could to
set up the Police. They ought to have been arrested but the
authorities opted for restraint, which I believe was wrong since by
doing that they betrayed a more significant value than the
Neo-liberal "Freedom of Expression”. The Police violated the
relevant law, which states that they are to prevent an offence.

-Talking about Neo-liberals. The other day, Ombudsman
Nanuashvili called for special regulations to recognize
transgenders. What do you think of it?

- It’s an important point. Three Georgian human rights
protectors: Messrs. Soso Manjavidze, Zviad Tomaradze and myself
have issued a statement in this connection. However, Ombudsman
Nanuashvili did not respond to our questions. The interest groups
get plenty of financial backing from abroad, and some of the NGOs
are highly critical of us. They call for protection of the
so-called sexual minorities and eventually legalizing same sex
marriage. It’s the obligation the international liberals imposed on
the Republican Party and they will do all they can to fulfill it,
all the more so that they are in the foreground within the
Ivanishvili coalition. The Republicans are actually in control of
the three branches of power. You will remember Mr. Ivanishvili
pledge to surprise Europe by democracy in Georgia, and he has lived
up to his promise. What we see is a political paradox when an
extremely low-rate party (the Republicans) is calling the
shots.

- Is it owing to Mr. Ivanishvili’s efforts or was it prompted
from abroad?

- Mr. Ivanishvili has been and still is under the Americans
influence. That’s why the country is actually US patrolled.
US-Georgia relationships are colonial rather than partnerial.
Recent appointment of Mrs. Tina Khidasheli the defense secretary
right after US Ambassador MR. Norland’s visit to Mr. Ivanishvili is
a clear example of it. You will remember PM Garibashvili’s abusive
personal remarks concerning her and yet he had to agree to giving
her the high office. By doing that he showed he is just another
puppet. So, we should not wonder at what’s going on and the
statements we hear. It’s actually National Movement #2 ruling the
country. The Georgian Dream has even outdone the Nationals in doing
the homework…

- Former president Saakashvili has been posting threats against
the Georgian Dream on almost a daily basis. He claims he will come
back to power before long. Do you think his appointment the Odessa
Governor has boosted his stance and that of his party or on the
contrary, it may herald the end of their career?

- What’s clear is that Mr. Saakashvili never changes, his as
revengeful as ever. You will remember that his very first days in
power were marked with arrests of the former government officials,
some fair other unfair. What matters that from the very beginning,
his rule stood out for intolerance, which resulted in about 40 000
prisoners.

The scenario is the same in Ukraine. A number of arrests have
been reported. His rhetoric is the same: zero tolerance.

As to your question whether the governorship is his strength or
a weakness: do you think what turned out unacceptable to the
Georgians is going to be acceptable to Ukrainians? Are they going
to put up with mass arrests, police brutality, harassment, terror?
It’s incredible. I am pretty sure Mr. Saakashvili’s political
career will soon come to an end. The Ukrainians will soon realize
what they are in for.

- There have been speculations that the National Movement and
some of the Georgian Dream coalition parties may form a block in
the run-up to next year’s parliament election? Do you think it’s
credible?

- The Dreamers and Nationals are actually at one. Mr.
Saakashvili is bracing for coming back to power. Understandingly,
he’s not going to get engaged in the race. As you said, several
parties, such as Free Democrats, Republicans, i.e. the so-called
Neo-liberals are likely to put together a coalition to presumably
be led by president Margvelashvili. That’s how the National
Movement with Mr. Saakashvili as its informal leader will
revitalize. He will wait until the Neo-liberals gain the
parliamentary majority, come on and then will he emerge one again.
It’s all as simple as all that. However, the scheme won’t work as
long as the public is on the alert. Otherwise, we’ll have to put up
with everything, even if they act against the national
interests.

Earlier this week, The Messenger sat down with former
Speaker of Parliament, current leader of the Democratic
Movement-United Georgia opposition party, and active representative
of the Representative Public Assembly, Nino Burjanadze.

You are a very controversial figure in Georgian politics;
on one hand you were one of the key initiators of the Rose
Revolution, but on the other hand, in Georgian politics today, you
are an opposition leader with radical aspirations. Based on this, I
am interested in your general assessment of today’s political
reality in Georgia.

I want to say the first question you ask is the result of serious
activities carried out by the current leadership of Georgia. The
term, “Burjanadze is a radical” is far from reality and I’ll say
why. The authorities created my "radical image" earlier than I had
imagined.